A mindfully styled way of living

My Top Tips for a Flawless Fake Tan

I am the first to admit that fake tanning can be a bit of effort to do. So that’s why whenever I decide to do it, I take all the precautions to make sure it turns out flawlessly and lasts as long as possible.

By following the advice below, you can achieve your own flawless, long lasting fake tan and save yourself the dangers associated with lying out in the sun.

The Exfoliation

One of the MOST important steps in fake tanning is to exfoliate! Before applying any fake tan you are going to want to exfoliate wherever you plan on applying it. Usually for me, that’s my whole body. Exfoliating the night before gives the best results as your skin has time to recover and it will reduce any sensitivity that you may have with tanning products. Whip up your own coffee of sugar scrub at home and get to buffing your bits. If you want a simple recipe to make your own coffee scrub, check out my previous post here.

The Mitt

2 years ago I converted to using a tanning mitt and I have never looked back. I absolutely love the ModelCo Blend Buffing Mitt ($9.99AUD) as it lasts for ages and doesn’t leave any felt behind like some can. I have gone through 2 so far. The benefits of a tanning mitt is that you can cover a greater surface area when tanning, making the process quicker, your hands are protected from the tan and product is easier to apply. On top of that, the tan goes further than if you were using your hands, which means you are using less tan per application. Tanning mitts are so affordable too and once you try one, you’ll be sorry you didn’t get one sooner.

The Tan

After showering, drying for 30 minutes and lightly moisturising my dry areas, it’s time to tan! I use my ModelCo mitt to apply my fave go-to tan – the Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam in Dark ($19.99). If you are fair, I would recommend trying a darker tan shade because I have heard that the light shade tans have a more orange finish to them. Apply a generous amount of tan over your body, don’t be afraid of how dark you look as the super dark pigment will rinse off. In these photos I left the Bondi Sands tan on for 4 hours before rising off. After applying your tan, do a quick once over and remove any unwanted tan with a damp wash cloth (ie if it gets on your palms etc).

The Dry Off

Instead of standing in the nude for ages waiting for the tan to dry, grab your hair dryer and using the cool setting, blast yourself. This will dry the tan quicker, letting you get back to your Netflix and chill. Whilst tanning, always avoid tight clothes. I personally reach for my giraffe onesie because it is super loose and comfy and stops the tan from transferring on to my furniture.

The Maintenance

After all that hard work of getting your tan on, you want to make sure that it lasts as long as possible! Make sure that you apply moisturiser or in my case, coconut oil, after bathing. This will keep the skin from getting dry and your tan from fading. Alternatively, you can use a gradual self tanner every second day to prolong the bronze life.